Chen Ping looked at the excitedly flickering soul fire of the Scarlet Cloud Demon Lord, nodded, then once more turned an icy gaze upon the remnant soul of the Heavenly Evil Sect Ancestor.
“My lord! This little one has already told you everything I know! I beg you…”
Feeling the chill in Chen Ping’s eyes, the Heavenly Evil Sect Ancestor pleaded again.
“Your value has been exhausted.”
Chen Ping spoke indifferly and willed it with a thought.
Within his sea of consciousness, the Great Luo Golden Canon blazed brighter. A golden flame formed purely of laws swept forth, instantly enveloping the remnant soul of the Heavenly Evil Sect Ancestor.
“No!!!”
With a final despairing, unwilling howl, this Heavenly Evil Sect Ancestor who had lived for countless ages and harboured boundless ambition saw his last remnant soul thoroughly purified and annihilated within the golden flames. It turned into the purest soul energy, part absorbed by the Great Luo Golden Canon, part dissipating to nourish Chen Ping’s sea of consciousness.
Threat eliminated, Chen Ping withdrew his consciousness from his sea of consciousness.
He opened his hand. The Ten-Thousand Transformations Blood Soul Bead still lay quietly in his palm, yet now, in his eyes, it was no longer a mysterious unknown object, but a pearl of hope brimming with infinite possibilities.
“Senior, you may come out and try.”
Chen Ping said softly.
A faint yet intensely excited black-red soul fire flew from between his brows and hovered before the blood bead. It was none other than the Scarlet Cloud Demon Lord.
“Kid, I…” The Scarlet Cloud Demon Lord’s voice choked with emotion.
“Senior, go in.”
Chen Ping held the blood bead before the soul fire. “I will find enough origin soul liquid for you and help you reforge your flesh body!”
“Kid, thank you…”
The Scarlet Cloud Demon Lord’s soul fire trembled violently. Then, without further hesitation, the soul fire slowly merged into the Ten-Thousand Transformations Blood Soul Bead.
The blood bead glowed slightly. A layer of warm lustre appeared on its surface. Inside, a mass of black-red soul fire could faintly be seen burning quietly. Completely different from the violent aura previously displayed by the Heavenly Evil Sect Ancestor, it had become gentle, docile, and filled with anticipation.
Chen Ping could feel that he had established an even deeper connection with the Scarlet Cloud Demon Lord inside the bead. He could sense Scarlet Cloud’s condition at any time.
He solemnly put away the blood bead, raised his gaze toward the distant horizon, and his eyes grew incomparably sharp and profound.
“Origin soul liquid… Soul-Nurturing Wood Heart, Soul-Returning Grass Core, Ghost Lotus Seed, sect soul stele…”
Chen Ping murmured these names under his breath. An overbearing aura that looked down upon the world, along with unshakeable determination, rose from his body.
“Old Black!”
He shouted in a deep voice.
“Here! Lord Chen!”
Old Black immediately flew over. Though it did not know exactly what had happened, it could feel the increasingly terrifying momentum and resolve radiating from Chen Ping.
“Pass down my order!”
Chen Ping’s voice rang like striking metal, resounding throughout the entire Ten-Thousand Bone Withered Cliff. “All dragon clan members are to rest and recover their strength at once! In half a day, follow me on campaign!”
“Campaign? Lord Chen, where are we going? Straight to the Nether Blood Sea to find that soul-devouring old dog?”
Old Black rubbed its fists, brimming with fighting spirit.
“No.”
Chen Ping slowly shook his head. The corners of his mouth curved into a cold arc. “Before we go after the Soul-Devouring Venerable, we have one important matter to attend to first.”
His gaze swept across the mountain-like piles of resources being collected from the Heavenly Evil Sect below, his tone calm yet filled with boundless majesty and killing intent.
“Inform every noteworthy sect and power in the Nine Heavens. Tell them to prepare their ten-thousand-year Soul-Nurturing Wood, Nine-Revolutions Soul-Returning Grass, Nether Ghost Lotuses, as well as their sect soul steles and ancestral statues!”
Old Black was stunned, not quite understanding. “Lord Chen, this means…”
Chen Ping stood with hands clasped behind his back, his robes fluttering though there was no wind. His voice reached the ears of every dragon clearly and seemed to pierce the void, spreading to every corner of the Nine Heavens.
“Tell them that I, Chen Ping, require origin soul liquid to save someone. If they willingly offer the materials I need, I can guarantee the safety of their sect and even bestow upon them a fortune.”
“But should any conceal their treasures, feign compliance while secretly refusing, or even dare to resist…”
Chen Ping paused. Cold light burst from his eyes. Dragon-slaying sword intent soared into the sky, churning the clouds.
